Fire-escape.



FIRE ESCAPE.

Application tiled Oct. 5, 1901.)

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(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES `PATENT EEICE.

WILLIAM H. PORTER, JR., OE PONOA, NEBRASKA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 715,691, dated December 9, 1902.

Application filed October 5, 1901. Serial No. 77,723. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, WILLIAM H. PORTER, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Ponca, in the county of Dixon and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to fire-escapes; and its primary Object is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and effective device of this character adapted to be easily carried by travelers and others and which may be safely used in eecting the descent of persons from burning buildings.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for automatically controlling the speed of the descent and the paying out of the metallic tape employed as a part of the invention.

The invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations of devices, which will be hereinafter fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, and the novel features will be dened in the appended claims. y

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a fire-escape embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a central sectional view of lthe same. Fig. 3 is an elevation with the cover-plate removed to show the automatic governor, the drum and tape being also omit-` Fig. 4 is a detail perspective illustrating the manner of attaching the tape to the revoluble drum or shaft. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of the movable arm which operates upon the friction-shoes. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the friction-shoes formingpart Of the governor device, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the springbrake mechanism forming part of the invention. Fig. 8 is a view in elevation with the cover-plate removed, showing the mechanism in the positions assumed when the device is in operation, the drum and the tape being omitted from the illustration, except that the tape is shown as broken oif.

The reference-numeral 1 designates a circular box or casing formed on its inner surface with an annular groove 2 and also with an annular friction-surface 3. rBhe casing 1 is also formed with a central bearing 4, within which is mounted one end of a revoluble drum 5, provided with a socket 6 to receive a pin 7, projecting from the cover-plate 8 of the casing.

9 designates a bar formed with a central opening 9, which fits over and engages with a coincident shoulder or bearing 5a, formed `on the drum or tape-spindle 5, the connection being such as to cause the bar 9 to revolve with the tape-spindle.

10 designates a lever fulcrumed at its upper end, as best shown in Fig. 3, to the end of the bar 9. This leveris of tapering form,

` and its lower end fits within a notch l1,

formed in a revoluble arm 12, which is loosely journaled upon the shaft or drum 5.

13 designates a frictional spring band or Wire,one end of which is attached to the lever l0,near the upper end thereof. The spring then passes around the circular iiange 14, and its opposite end is attached to the bar 9, near the upper end thereof. The circular flange ssl 14 is formed on the inner face of the back plate of the Casin g and placed concentric with the casing. It is provided with an annular groove, as shown, wherein the band or wire 13 is seated.

15 and 16 designate friction-shoes, which are of approximately sernicircularl form, and their outer faces are provided with a covering 17, of leather or like material, to provide a good friction-surface. Each of the frictionshoes is formed with an inwardly-extending radial arm 18, formed with a longitudinallydisposed recess or way 18a, having parallel side anges 19, between which the limbs of the arm 12 engage.

To the shaft ordi-um 5 is attached one.end 0f a metallic tape 20. The manner of securing the tape to the shaft or drum 5 is shown best in Fig. 4, the shaft being formed with a longitudinal slot 2l of dovetail form in crosssection, while to the end of the tape is secured a rod 22, adapted to t in the slot, as will be readily understood from the drawings. This manner of securing the metallic tape permits it to be readily attached to or de` formed in the periphery of the casing, and runs over a roller 24C. It then passes once around the casing and up undera guard-roller 25, and its end is looped for attachment to an article of furniture or other support within the room of a building. I preferably provide a double thickness of the tape for a distance of a few feet near its attached end to prevent abrasion or wear by contact with stone or brick walls or Window-sills.

26 designates a strap or loop suitably attached to a bail or loop secured to the periphery of the easing and adapted to he attached to the body of the person using the device in any suitable manner, as by being passed under the arms.

The distinguishing characteristic of my improvement is that the brake and governor mechanism is entirely automatic and the user of the improvement need not pay attention to the speed of the descent.

The operation is as follows: When the Weight or power is applied to the tape and it is drawn out, the spindle or drum 5 is rotated and carries with it the arm 9. At the same time and at the initial movement of the arm 9 the lever 10 is actuated to tighten the brakeband wire 13 about the circular flange 14 and creates strong frictional contact therewith. The rapid revolution ensuing causes the brake or friction shoes to move outward by centrifugal force into contact with the interior surface of the rim of the casing and give additional frictional results in the action and operation of the mechanism. A disk 27 is interposed between the brake mechanism and coil of tape to hold the coils in vertical alinement.

The parts are so adjusted as to insure the action of the circular spring-brake band on a very slight movement of the lever lO. For example, when the lever l0 is moved onethirty-second of an inch the springbrake band begins to tighten, and a movement of three-sixteenths of an inch will cause a dead stop under weight of two hundred pounds.

I would have it understood that theinvention is not restricted totheK details shown in the drawings and that I reserve the right to make all such slight changes inthe form and construction as may be embraced within the spirit of my invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claiml. A fire-escape comprising a circular casing, brake-shoes loosely disposed therein to bear against the inner surface of the rim of the casing, a circular stationary frictionflange, having an annular groove in the cas ing, a brake-band on the flange in the annular groove, a radial arm revolubly mounted in the casing and having one end connected to one end of the brake-band, a lever pivotally mounted on the arm and having one end of the brake-band connected thereto, an arm 12, loosely connecting the brake shoes, a spindle projected through both of said arms,

and a tape to rotate the spindle.

2. A fire-escape comprising a circular casing, brake-shoes loosely disposed therein, a cross-bar slidingly connecting the brake shoes, a revolu ble spindle, a lever-bar mounted on the spindle to turn therewith, a circular ring stationary in the casing, a brakeband on the ring, having one end fastened to the end of the bar, a lever` pivotally mounted on said lever-bar, having one end connected to the brake-band and the other end engaging with the cross bar between the brake-shoes, and a tape secured to the spindle.

3. A fire-escape comprising a circular casing, brake-shoes loosely disposed therein to bear against the rim of the casing, and formed with inwardly-directed arms, a cross-bar slidingly connecting the said arms, a spindle journaled in the casing, a lever-bar mounted on the spindle to engage and rotate the brakeshoes, a circular ring stationary in the casing, a brake-band on the ring having one end fastened to the end of the lever-bar, a lever pivotally mounted on the lever-bar having one end connected to the brake-band and the other end engaging with the notch in the l cross-bar between the brake-shoes, and an extensible tape secured to the spindle.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILL. H. PORTER, JR.

Witnesses:

C. A. KINGsBURY, F. S. PAYNE. 

